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How this Beauty Brand is Going Beyond Fair Trade | Business with Purpose Podcast EP 281: Olowo-n’djo Tchala, CEO of Alaffia

How this Beauty Brand is Going Beyond Fair Trade | Business with Purpose Podcast EP 281: Olowo-n'djo Tchala, CEO of Alaffia

How this Beauty Brand is Going Beyond Fair Trade | Business with Purpose Podcast EP 281: Olowo-n’djo Tchala, CEO of Alaffia

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  • How this Beauty Brand is Going Beyond Fair Trade | Business with Purpose Podcast EP 281: Olowo-n’djo Tchala, CEO of Alaffia
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Click a timestamp below to be taken to the exact spot in the episode…

My guest this week is Olowo-n’djo Tchala. Born in the village of Kaboli, Togo, West Africa near the border of Benin, Olowo-n’djo grew up sharing an 8’x10’ room with seven siblings and his mother. 

Although they did not always have enough, his mother, Ina, instilled in him the importance of kindness and generosity by always sharing what they could. Unable to afford school fees, Olowo-n’djo dropped out of school in the sixth grade to help support his family.

After meeting his wife he founded Alaffia in 2003. In 2004, armed with his understanding of the value of indigenous West African resources and sustainable business ideologies, he launched Alaffia’s first collective. Alaffia continues to redefine the natural products industry through its values of beauty, equality and empowerment.

Alaffia handcrafts award-winning clean, green beauty and grooming products and is a social enterprise on a mission to invest in a more equitable future. 

4:25 – My personal testimonial

  • I’m such a huge fan of Alaffia. My son Amos, who is almost 6, had horrible eczema as a child. We tried everything. Somebody recommended Alaffia to me, and I became a believer.
  • It was safe and smelled amazing. It was a lifesaver. 

6:09 – Olowo-n’djo 101

  • He sees Alaffia as everybody’s brand, not just his. He feels honored to do something that he believes in.

10:43 – Meeting his wife

  • Olowo-n’djo’s wife, Rose, studied chemistry and is from Washington state. 
  • He decided to follow her because, “You have to follow the one that touches your heart.”

14:38 – Meaning of Alaffia

  • Alaffia means peace and health. His beauty brand represents a social movement, not just a business. 

18:55 – How his business sprouted

  • Olowo-n’djo’s mother instilled a sense of responsibility in him. He wanted to be a subway engineer at one point to help find clean water. 

21:20 – Fair trade model

  • Alaffia has gone above the idea of the  “fair trade” model. He is setting a standard for other companies. 

24:36 – Funding births

  • Olowo-n’djo has funded over 6,500 births. 

29:24 – Women’s issues

  • I am so grateful to Olowo-n’djo for talking about important topics, like women’s’ maternal health.
  • Women often have to advocate for themselves, so it’s nice to see a man advocating for us. 

33:53 – Biggest challenge

  • The biggest challenge he faces depends on the day. The challenges are continuous, and there are incredible difficulties. 

37:09 – His products

  • Alaffia makes a lot of bath products, but they also make creams for moisturizing the skin. 

41:29 – Get to know you

  • Who would play him in a movie? He would play himself.
  • Who would play his mom in a movie? His aunt

FEATURED QUOTES

I don’t want anyone to feel sorry for us. We have so much to offer the world. 

I get to do something that I deeply and profoundly believe in, really deep in my heart and my soul. 

CONNECT:

https://www.alaffia.com/

About Olowo-n’djo Tchala:

Olowo-n’djo Tchala, founder and CEO of Alaffia, was born and raised in the village of Kaboli, Togo, Africa located in the Central region near the border of Benin. Growing up, he shared an 8’ x 10’ room with his mother and seven siblings. Olowo-n’djo’s mother taught him the importance of kindness and generosity and by the age of five, Olowo-n’djo was working on the family farm to help support his family. After meeting Prairie Rose Hyde, who was serving in the Peace Corps at the time, he came to the United States and worked his way through school, eventually graduating from the University of California, Davis with a degree in organizational theory. Shortly before graduation, Olowo-n’djo and Rose felt they had the responsibility to fight the injustices that existed in West Africa. They founded Alaffia, which handcrafts award-winning clean and fair trade beauty and grooming care. The organization advances gender equality and alleviates poverty through the fair trade of indigenous African resources such as unrefined shea butter, African black soap, coconut oil and neem extract.

Thank you to our partner of the show!

Are you looking to clean up your household cleaning products this year? MamaSuds would like to help! The best way is to simply start with one product. Every time you run out of a specific cleaning product, replace it with a non-toxic one. Another tip, purchase a product that has multiple uses. The MamaSuds Collection has many multiple use products (castile soap or the toilet bombs are just a few!). Their blog has lots of great tips and a castile soap recipe that you can print and make a lot of your own effective cleaners! Give them a try at www.mamasuds.com and don’t forget to use the coupon code MOLLY for 15% off your order! 

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Six years ago I felt God calling me to go to Seminary. I ignored that call, coming up with excuse after excuse as to why I shouldn’t or why I *couldn’t* do it. Then in 2024, God swung the door to attend @denverseminary wide open to join the Women’s Leadership Cohort and practically shoved me through.

I’m finishing my first full year and just completed my first residency week on campus studying the Epistles and Revelation. I didn’t know what to expect walking into this week, but any expectation I COULD have had was completely blown away.

To study under the brilliant Dr. Joey Dodson (@jrrdodson) and guests like @preston.sprinkle, @madisonpiercephd, @studies_in_revelation, and more was incredible. To learn alongside some of the most brilliant women I’ve ever met was a gift.

I’m leaving with even more questions than I arrived with, but also more assurance that I am PRECISELY where I am supposed to be. I can’t help but smile thinking about the Apostle Paul learning that in 2025 a group of WOMEN are studying the Word of God and how much that would delight him. I pray I steward this responsibility well. #womeninseminary #densem #denverseminary #seminary #densemwlc #womensleadershipcohort

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Six years ago I felt God calling me to go to Seminary. I ignored that call, coming up with excuse after excuse as to why I shouldn’t or why I *couldn’t* do it. Then in 2024, God swung the door to attend @denverseminary wide open to join the Women’s Leadership Cohort and practically shoved me through. 

I’m finishing my first full year and just completed my first residency week on campus studying the Epistles and Revelation. I didn’t know what to expect walking into this week, but any expectation I COULD have had was completely blown away. 

To study under the brilliant Dr. Joey Dodson (@jrrdodson) and guests like @preston.sprinkle, @madisonpiercephd, @studies_in_revelation, and more was incredible. To learn alongside some of the most brilliant women I’ve ever met was a gift. 

I’m leaving with even more questions than I arrived with, but also more assurance that I am PRECISELY where I am supposed to be. I can’t help but smile thinking about the Apostle Paul learning that in 2025 a group of WOMEN are studying the Word of God and how much that would delight him. I pray I steward this responsibility well. #womeninseminary #densem #denverseminary #seminary #densemwlc #womensleadershipcohort

“Let the strength of your passion match the depth of your study.”
-Preston Sprinkle

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“Let the strength of your passion match the depth of your study.”
-Preston Sprinkle

Two days in to my seminary residency week at @denverseminary and I feel like I’ve aged 1,000 years in oddly the best way.

What a gift, what a joy, what a PRIVILEGE to study God’s word under some of the greatest scholars of our day alongside the most brilliant group of women.

We are being stretched, challenged, affirmed, convicted, and shaped. Nary a one of us will leave this place the same.

But isn’t that the goal? To encounter Christ and walk away different every single time.

To God be the glory. #denverseminary #womeninseminary #womensleadershipcohort #densemwlc

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Two days in to my seminary residency week at @denverseminary and I feel like I’ve aged 1,000 years in oddly the best way. 

What a gift, what a joy, what a PRIVILEGE to study God’s word under some of the greatest scholars of our day alongside the most brilliant group of women. 

We are being stretched, challenged, affirmed, convicted, and shaped. Nary a one of us will leave this place the same. 

But isn’t that the goal? To encounter Christ and walk away different every single time. 

To God be the glory. #denverseminary #womeninseminary #womensleadershipcohort #densemwlc

Our girl graduated fifth grade today and sang the National Anthem 🥹 And yes, I was a blubbery mess. I’m so grateful God saw fit for me to be her mama. We are so proud of the amazing young woman she’s becoming. #lillstillhomemovies

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Our girl graduated fifth grade today and sang the National Anthem 🥹 And yes, I was a blubbery mess. I’m so grateful God saw fit for me to be her mama. We are so proud of the amazing young woman she’s becoming. #lillstillhomemovies

🇺🇸 ❤️ remembering her and all those who gave their lives in service to their country.

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🇺🇸 ❤️ remembering her and all those who gave their lives in service to their country.

Spam texts are like a box of chocolates… I just start replying with Forrest Gump quotes ‘til they leave me alone. #spamtexts #lifeislikeaboxofchocolates

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Spam texts are like a box of chocolates… I just start replying with Forrest Gump quotes ‘til they leave me alone. #spamtexts #lifeislikeaboxofchocolates

He is risen indeed! ✝️

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He is risen indeed! ✝️

It’s wild out here in these pollen streets. #thepollening 🤧

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It’s wild out here in these pollen streets. #thepollening 🤧

🎊 ONE WHOLE YEAR 🎉

My debut memoir, “If I Don’t Laugh, I’ll Cry” has been out in the world for one whole year today. Writing this book was hard and holy work, and it’s been such a joy to see how many of you have laughed, cried, and laughed till you cried.

Thank you for the support of this book. ❤️

If you’ve read it, would you do me a *huge* favor and leave a review on Amazon and Goodreads? And would you share the book with a friend or on social media? It would mean the world to me.

And if you haven’t picked up a copy or downloaded the audiobook yet, what are you waiting for? 😉

#ifidontlaughillcry #iidlic #nelsonbooks

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🎊 ONE WHOLE YEAR 🎉 

My debut memoir, “If I Don’t Laugh, I’ll Cry” has been out in the world for one whole year today. Writing this book was hard and holy work, and it’s been such a joy to see how many of you have laughed, cried, and laughed till you cried. 

Thank you for the support of this book. ❤️

If you’ve read it, would you do me a *huge* favor and leave a review on Amazon and Goodreads? And would you share the book with a friend or on social media? It would mean the world to me. 

And if you haven’t picked up a copy or downloaded the audiobook yet, what are you waiting for? 😉 

#ifidontlaughillcry #iidlic #nelsonbooks

Nine is fine! Happy birthday to the sweetest, kindest, funniest, smartest, best basketball playing boy we know! We love you, buddy roe!

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Nine is fine! Happy birthday to the sweetest, kindest, funniest, smartest, best basketball playing boy we know! We love you, buddy roe!
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